Welding torch igniter



July 24, 1951 J. 5. PFLUM 2,561,480

WELDING TORCH IGNITER Filed Dec. 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR c/ofinSfP/lum ATTORNEYS July 24, 1951 J. s. PFLUM 2,561,480

WELDING TORCH IGNITER Filed Dec. 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY MM ATTORNEY5 Patented July 24, 1:951

'T UNI -ED STATES "PATENT OFFICE WELDING TOR CHIGNITER J ohn S.-Pflum, ConnersvilleJnd. Application December 19, 1949, Serial No. 133,828 a and permit the operator to manipulate the valves with a free hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a torch lighter which is normally inoperative, be ing automatically cut oil when the torch is removed and rendered automatically operative when a torch is engaged therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide in}; torch lighter of this kind a cup-shaped reflector for confining the dischargedgases about the end of the nozzle to therebyassure the quick lighting ofth'etorch.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detailed front elevation of a welding torch lighter constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

ing or the like, to the back wall ll and projects above and below the housing I being formed with upper and lower key hole openings or slots 11 and H! for receiving supporting members to support the housing in operative position.

A high tension coil 19 is mounted within the housing I0 being secured to the inner side of the It is, therefore, an object of 4 Claims- (01. 175 -116) front wall [2 and is adapted to be connected to a source of electric current supply by means of conductors 2i) andZl. A switch 22 is interposed in conductor 2U1being. dependingly secured to the lower side of thecover or closure and is nor mally spring pressed to a circuit breaking posi.

. tion.

front side of the housing It) being secured to ter- A pair of electrodes 23 are disposed on theouter minals-H which are connected with the secondary 25 of the coil 19. The electrodes 23 are formed withan L-shaped intermediate portion 26 and,

upwardly and inwardly inclined extensions 21. The extensions 21 have projecting therefrom ter-.

minalpoints 28 which are disposed in upwardly convergent relation as shown in Figure 1.

A bell-shaped reflector 29 is secured by fasa tening means 30 to the front wall 12, and the electrode points 28 are disposed within the open front side of the reflector 29. r V

An elongated torch supporting rod or bar-3i is rockably disposed through an opening 32, formed in the front wall l2 and is provided atits outer, end with her 33, l

A dependingplate 34 is disposed in the hous f ing in being provided with an upper base 35 which is secured by fastening means 36 to the lower side of the closure or cap IS. The plate 34 is positioned inwardly from the switch 22 as shown in Figure 2 and is formed with a key hole slot or opening 31 within which the inner end of the rod 3| slidably engages. The rod 3| is formed with a pair of opposed transversely disposed slots 38 engaging in the narrow portion of the opening 31 so as to hold the rod 3| against endwise movement while permitting vertical rocking of the inner end of rod 3| to thereby move the switch 22 to a circuit closing position.

In the use and operation of this lighter the housing 10 is secured to a suitable support and coil I8 is connected to a source of electric current supply by conductors 20 and 2|. When it is desired to light the torch the nozzle is extended through the ring 33, and rod 3| is rocked downwardly at its outer end by weight of the nozzle so as to thereby move switch 22 to a circuit closing position. When the circuit to the primary of coil i9 is closed a spark will jump between the electrode points 28 so that the gas being discharged from the nozzle and passing between the points 28 will be ignited. The reflector 29 will provide a means for confining the discharged a ring shaped supporting men 3 the spark jumping between the points 28 of electrodes 23.

With a torch lighter as hereinbefore described the operator can readily adjust the valve or valves regulating the discharge of gas from the nozzle so that the desired lighting of the gas will be effected.

What is claimed is:

l, A torch lighter comprising a housing, a high tension'coil in said housing, a pair'offspark-gap forming electrodes connected to said coil and disposed on the forward side of said housing, a bellshaped reflector fixed to the forward side of said housing, said spark-gap forming electrodes prov jecting into the open side of saidreflector, a

normally open switch in said housing connected to said coil, a switch operating rodirockahlycar- 1 ried by said housing and projecting from the forward side thereof, and a torch supporting'member carried by the forward end of said rod for supporting the torch nozzle in a position confronting saidspark-gap forming electrodes, downward rocking of the forward end of said rodmovingsaid switch to circuitclosing position. a I

2'. A torch lighter comprising a housing, a high tension coil in said housing, a pair of spaced electrodes connected to said coil and disposed on the forward side of said; housing, a normally open switch in said housing connected to said coil, said housing having an opening in the forward side thereof above said electrodes, a bar loosely engaging through said opening adjacent said switch, a guide carried by said housing an engaging the innerend of said bar for guiding the vertical movement of said bar when said bar is moved to close said switch, and'a ring carried by the outer end of said bar for supporting a torch nozzle in a position whereby the gas discharged therefrom will flow between said electrodes for igniting thereby when said switch is closed.

- 3. A torch'lighter comprising a housing,a high tension coil in said housing, a pair of spaced electrodes connected to said coil and disposed onthe forward side of said housing, a normally open switch connected to said coil and disposed in said housing, a depending guide in said housing 4 formed with a keyhole slot, said housing having an opening in the front wall thereof, a bar loosely engaging through said opening, said bar having a pair of transverse slots whereby the inner end of said bar may slidably engage in said keyhole slot, the fulcrum for said bar comprising the opening in said housing whereby downward rocking of the outer end or said bar will raise the inner end thereof and move said switch to circuit closing position causing an are between said electrodes, and a-ring carried'by the outer end of said bar for supporting the torch nozzle in coni fronting position to said electrodes.

-A torch'lighter comprising a housing, a high "tension coil in said housing, a pair of spaced elec- 1 trodes connected to said coil and disposed on the forward side of said housing, a normally open switch connected to said coil anddisposed in said "housing';a depending guide in said housing formed with a keyhole slot, said housing having an opening in the front-wallther'eof, a barloosely engaging through said opening, said-bar having a; pair:

of transverse slots whereby the inner end'of said bar may slidably engage in said keyhole slot, the, fulcrum for said bar comprising the opening in said housing wherebyv downward rocking of the outer end of said bar will raise the inner end thereof andmove said switch to cirouitclosing position causing an arc between said electrodes, 2.

ring carried by'the outer end of said barfor supporting the torch nozzle in confronting position to said electrodes, and a cup-shaped reflector carried byxsaid housing in confronting position to;

said electrodes.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 4c

2,062,703 -Fairless I. Dec, 1, 1936.

' JOHN s. PFLUMQ" 

